Voices Found: Singing of Joseph, the Dreamer, VF 64
A lily, symbol of Faithfulness
Voices Found #64, verse 2
Joseph in your darkest night, angel message hearing,
You cast not your live aside, scorn and anger fearing.
When a loved one brings us grief, rips our world asunder,
Dreamer, may we have your heart, open to God’s wonder.
Words: Carol Goodwin King
Music: Tempus ad est floridum from Piae Cantiones, 1582
Joseph rarely appears in Christmas Carols even though he courageously nurtured and and protected Mary during her Holy Pregnancy. His love affirmed her willingness to bear the Christ-child. Therefore it is appropriate to celebrate and teach his love and faithfulness. This hymn is appropriate for Advent, the Annunciation and other services in praise of the Virgin.
"Mary when the angel's voice" celebrates the entire Holy Family. The familiar tune, Tempus adest floridum, has a fascinating history. It is from an ancient songbook, Piae Cantiones, collected in 1582 by Theodoricus Petri, a Finnish student. The volume was then edited by a Catholic student and again by a Swedish Lutheran. The original text of Tempus adest floridum celebrated Springtime, new life and flowers. The tune was later used to set several other texts in praise of the Virgin Mary. Protestants removed Mary from the song. In 1853, John Mason Neale received a copy of Piae Cantiones, then unknown in England. He used the tune to set his famous masculine text, "Good King Wenceslas, "which brought the tune into the Anglican repertoire. It is now quite familiar.
Carol Goodwin King used the simple melody to set her text, "Mary when the angel's voice" written as a teaching piece for her Sunday school class. While the text is simple, appropriate for students, there is much wisdom for all. In the full four stanzas published in Voices Found we learn of virtues exemplified by the entire Holy Family. Mary, always a model of purity and obedience, calls for justice: “from oppression raise the poor, proud and mighty scatter.” Joseph shows love and courage in the face of “scorn and anger.” Elizabeth, a wise nurturing spirit, demonstrates compassion, extending a gentle touch to calm Mary’s fears. Appropriate for Advent as well as Lent, the text reminds us of the promise of Resurrection: “seeds beneath the winter snow live though all seems barren.” With this reminder of life and rebirth to come, we hear echoes of the original Medieval song of Spring and rebirth. Many groups will enjoy singing her carol especially for Christmas pageants. Two harmonizations are provided in the Leader’s Guide to Voices Found. One includes a descant for choirs or for adventurous congregations.
Here is the full text:
Mary, when the angel’s voice called you highly favored,
Dread and joy in your heart mixed, pondered there and savored.
May we learn to welcome all that our life is bringing,
Even when in pain we feel birth within us springing.
Joseph in your darkest night, angel message hearing,
You cast not your live aside, scorn and anger fearing.
When a loved one brings us grief, rips our world asunder,
Dreamer, may we have your heart, open to God’s wonder.
Old and sage Elizabeth, birth anticipating,
Nurturing your cousin’s will you taught hopeful waiting.
So, as women long have done, may we never falter
To extend a gentle touch, fears to courage alter.
God, whose name we magnify, all your children matter,
From oppression raise the poor; proud and mighty scatter.
Seeds beneath the winter snow live, though all seems barren.
Lift a carl sing of hope for the Rose of Sharon.
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